Blog - The Purbottar

17 Dec

Army Contingent Departs For India–UAE Exercise Desert Cyclone 2025

Sonakshi SarkarIndia

An Indian Army contingent has left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the second edition of the India-UAE Joint Military Exercise, named DESERT CYCLONE-II, which is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 18 to December 30, 2025. This exercise will feature a contingent of 45 personnel from the Indian Army, primarily drawn from a battalion of The Mechanised Infantry Regiment, and will be matched by a similar-sized group from the UAE Land Forces, represented by the 53 Mechanised Infantry Battalion. The primary objective of DESERT CYCLONE-II is to enhance interoperability and bolster defense cooperation…

17 Dec

Special purpose vehicle to promote river cruise religous tourism circuit in Assam

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal today said that a special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been formed to promote river cruise religous tourism circuit in Assam. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Sonowal said an SPV, comprising Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, IWAI, and the Inland Water Transport and Tourism Department of the Government of Assam, has taken up the development of a religious tourism circuit connecting seven temples, namely Lachit Ghat, Aswaklanta Temple Ghat, Doul Govinda Mandir Ghat, Hanuman Mandir Ghat (Uzan Bazar), Umananda Ghat, Pandunath Ghat, and Kamakhya Temple, using suitable vessels under a…

17 Dec

International Pedagogical Exchange Workshop Held at DIET Gyalshing to Promote Global Teaching Practices

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

A full day of discussion, learning, and shared classroom experiences marked the Pedagogical Exchange Workshop held on December 12 at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Gyalshing. The workshop was organised by the Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee (KCC) in collaboration with the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore, and DIET Gyalshing.The programme brought together teacher trainees from Singapore and educators from Gyalshing, creating a space for open academic exchange and professional interaction. The workshop aimed to strengthen international cooperation in teacher education and encourage the sharing of new and practical teaching methods that can be used in classrooms. The…

17 Dec

NCPA opens applications for citi scholarship for young Hindustani musicians

Business BureauBusiness

The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, has announced the opening of applications for the NCPA Citi Scholarship for Young Musicians 2026–28, aimed at supporting emerging talent in Hindustani music. The two-year scholarship will support advanced training in Hindustani vocal forms such as khayal and dhrupad, as well as melody instruments including sitar, sarod, flute, harmonium and violin. Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend of ₹10,000 from April 2026 to March 2028. Interested applicants must submit their detailed bio-data by email to indianmusicscholarships@ncpamumbai.com on or before December 20, 2025. Applications sent by post or courier will not…

17 Dec

Samsung launches ‘Galaxy Days’ on Flipkart; Kolkata buyers to get exchange and pair-up deals

Business BureauBusiness

Samsung on Monday announced the first edition of Galaxy Days on Flipkart, offering exclusive benefits to customers, including buyers in Kolkata. The three-day online event will run from December 16 to December 18 and will bring enhanced exchange offers, pair-up deals and limited-period rewards on a range of Galaxy devices. Samsung said customers can avail exchange bonuses of up to ₹12,000 on select Galaxy smartphones during the sale period. For customers in Kolkata looking to upgrade their devices, the offer also includes pair-up deals, allowing savings of up to ₹5,000 on Galaxy wearables and accessories when purchased along with eligible…

17 Dec

Recharge-linked handset insurance adds peace of mind

Business BureauBusiness

Telecom operator Vi has rolled out India’s first recharge-linked handset theft and loss insurance plan for prepaid customers, offering much-needed protection for smartphones lost or stolen. The move is expected to benefit a large number of mobile users in Meghalaya, where prepaid connections dominate the telecom market. The new insurance facility is available for both Android and iOS devices and comes bundled with select prepaid recharge packs. Under the plan, customers can claim insurance coverage of up to ₹25,000 in case of handset loss or theft. This is significant, as traditional handset insurance policies usually cover only accidental damage and…

17 Dec

West Bengal among top 10 crypto states as Kolkata investors show balanced approach: CoinSwitch report

Business BureauBusiness

West Bengal has emerged as one of India’s steadily growing and balanced crypto markets, according to the CoinSwitch Annual Report 2025. The report places the state among the country’s top 10 crypto states, contributing 5.3 per cent of India’s total invested crypto value. In the Kolkata market, investors are showing a cautious yet diversified approach to digital assets. The report notes that 29.9 per cent of investments from West Bengal are in large-cap assets, while small caps account for 28 per cent. Mid-cap assets make up 22.5 per cent, reflecting a well-distributed portfolio strategy. Bitcoin continues to dominate investor preference…

17 Dec

Prohibitory Order Along India-Bangla Border In Assam’s Cachar District To Curb Influx

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

: Prohibitory orders have been imposed along the India–Bangladesh border in Assam’s Cachar district to prevent illegal movement and activities that could threaten peace and security, an official statement said on Wednesday. The directive comes in the wake of concerns regarding possible infiltration by extremist elements and unauthorised cross-border activities that could disturb law and order in sensitive border areas. The order was issued by Cachar District Magistrate Mridul Yadav, exercising powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), with the objective of restricting the illegal movement of people, goods and other unlawful activities across the border.…

17 Dec

Supercars Roll On Silk Route To Promote Sikkim Tourism

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim hosted a supercar rally featuring 17 of the world’s most iconic high-performance vehicles — from Lamborghinis to Porsches — on the state’s rugged mountain terrain. According to officials, the rally was organised from December 12 to 15 under the Ministry of Defence’s ‘Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan’ initiative to boost battlefield and border tourism. The event was a civil–military initiative conducted under the aegis of Army’s Trishakti Corps in partnership with Super Car Route (Mumbai) and the Government of Sikkim, aimed at promoting responsible tourism, showcasing India’s border heritage and strengthening bonds between citizens and the Armed Forces. The event was…

17 Dec

Assam CM uses Facebook Live to announce important job appointments and development plans

Banasree SarkarAssam

During a Facebook Live conversation with the people, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a number of significant statements, including youth empowerment, infrastructure development, and government recruitment. The Chief Minister stated that the state government is determined to finish hiring a big number of people before the model code of conduct takes effect. Appointment letters for positions in the health department will be sent out on December 22, according to CM Sarma. On December 23, candidates from the tea garden community will receive their appointment letters. He added that appointment letters for Grade IV positions under the Assam Direct…